Parallel attachable, two story expandable, trailable building structures

ABSTRACT

Series of similar mobile homes having roof and wall members hingedly joined to said structures, allowing members to assume outwardly expanded angularly oriented positions, forming second story living space. Further having angularly mounted bracing members on outer portion of sidewalls at floor levels for attachment of like structures in stabilized parallel positions, being individually removeable or addable.

United States Patent 1191 Barlow 1451 Nov. 27, 1973 PARALLEL ATTACHABLE,TWO STORY EXPANDABLE, TRAILABLE BUILDING STRUCTURES [76] Inventor:Richard A. Barlow, 2008 Dundee Rd., Rockville, Md. 20850 22 Filed:11611.22, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 201,082

52 US. c1 296/23 G, 296/26, 52/66 51 Int. Cl 1360p 3/32 [58] Field 61Search 296/27, 26, 23 R, 296/23 G, 137 B, 137 c, 137 F, 100; 52/64,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,363,259 11/1944 Penton296/23 R 3,667,800 6/1972 Cuthbert 296/27 2,408,132 9/1946 Weeks 296/137B 3,604,166 9/1971 Ciccarelli.... 52/79 3,069,224 12/1962 Bigelow 52/793,561,175 2/1971 Best et a1. 52/169 Primary Examiner-Philip GoodmanAssistant Examiner-John A. Carroll [57] ABSTRACT Series of similarmobile homes having roof and wall members hingedly joined to saidstructures, allowing members to assume outwardly expanded angularlyoriented positions, forming second story living space. Further havingangularly mounted bracing members on outer portion of sidewalls at floorlevels for attachment of like structures in stabilized parallelpositions, being individually removeable or addable.

4 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHUV 27 I975 SHEET 2 BF 4 QQQEQ FIG.

FIG. 8

INVEN'TOR PARALLEL ATTACI-IABLE, TWO STORY EXPANDABLE, TRAILABLEBUILDING STRUCTURES This invention relates to expandable trailablebuilding structures and the object of this invention is to provide animproved and simplified means by which a series of similar trailablebuilding structures that meet highway transport requirements can beexpanded at their location site into two story structures an forstability can be attached together in parallel in such a way i as toallow the addition or removal of any one structure without disturbingthe others.

One object of this invention is to provide a series of similar trailablebuilding structures that meet highway transit requirements with a seriesof hingedly mounted sections which when expanded from horizontalpositions atop second story floors of the structures, to vertical anddiagonal positionsform completely enclosed roof and wall areas, addingentirely livable second stories to the structures.

Another object of this invention, and essential to the first is toprovide stability to these expanded trailable building structures bymeans of a series of angularly mounted brackets, which when attachedtogether or to vertically mounted steel posts in the ground betweenstructures, or to parallel masonry walls between structures, joins themin parallel positions that prevent movement such as wind buffeting, butstill allows the addition or removal of any one structure when detached.

In the process of expansion and attachment these structures take on theappearance of a clustered townhouse complex, much more estheticallypleasing and more economically and ecologically justifiable.

With the above more important objects in view and such other objects asmay become apparent in the following specifications, the invention isshown by arrangement and construction of correspondingly numbered partsset forth in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claimswhich form a part of this spec- FIG. I is a perspective viewof theinvention, illustrating like structures in the expanded position as theywould appear at the location site and attached in parallel with theexception of one structure which has the folding wall and roof membersin the folded position and is shown as it would be in either theaddition or removal position.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the invention, illustrating similar structuresin the attached parallel position at the first floor level, showing acomplete floor plan of one of the structures, including the stair andmidfloor level leading up to the second floor, and portions of theadjoining structures.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the invention, illustrating similar structuresin the attached parallel position at the second story level, showing acomplete floor plan of one of the structures, including the stair andmidfloor level leading down to the first floor, and portions of theadjoining structures.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the invention, illustrating one of the similarstructures in the folded position as it would appear in transit.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the invention, illustrating one of the similarstructures in the expanded position as it would appear at the locationsite.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional end view of the invention, illustrating oneof the similar structures in the folded position as it would appear intransit.

FIG. 7 is a detailed portion of a'cross sectional end view of theinvention, illustrating one of the similar structures in the foldedposition at stations A-A and B-B of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional end view of the invention, illustrating oneof the similar structures in the expanded position as it would appear atthe location site.

FIG. 9 is a detailed portion of a cross sectional end view of theinvention, illustrating one of the similar structures in the expandedposition at stations A-A and 8-8 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an end view of the invention, illustrating a series of thesimilar structures in the expanded position and attachedin parallel asthey would appear at the location site.

FIG. 11 is a detailed portion of a cross sectional view of theinvention, illustrating the arrangement of two of the similar structuresat one of the points of attachment at station A-A of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is-a detailed portion of a three dimentional view of theinvention, illustrating; the arrangement of two of the similarstructures at one of the points of attachment at station AA of of FIGS.10 and 11.

FIG. 13 is a detailed portion of a cross sectional view of theinvention, illustrating an alternate arrangement of two of the similarstructures at one of the points of attachment at station B-B of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a detailed portion of a three dimensional view of theinvention, illustrating an alternate arrangement of two of the similarstructures at one of the points of attachment at station B-B of FIGS. 10and 13.

FIG. ,15 is a detailed portion of a cross sectional view of theinvention, illustrating an altrenate arrangement of two of the similarstructures at one of the points of attachment at station C--C of FIG.10.

FIG. 16 is a detailed portion of a three dimensional view of theinvention, illustrating an alternate arrangement of two of the similarstructures at one of the points of attachment at station C-C of FIGS. 10and 15.

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional, end view of the invention, illustratingone of the similar sturctures in the folded position as it would appearin transit, with an alternate roof and end wall configuration. L

FIG. 18 is cross sectional end view of the invention, illustrating oneof the similar structures in the expanded position as it would appear atthe location site, with an alternate roof and second story end wallconfiguration.

Referrlng now to the accompanying drawings, in detail the inventionconsists of a series of similar expandable trailable building structuresdesignated each by the numeral 10, each of which embodies in itsconstruction a rigid steel I beam frame 11, with necessary axles,wheels, and a hitching unit for connection to a towing vehicle. The lbeam frame: 11, carries a generally rectangular base structurecomprising of a main floor l2, fixed side walls 13, fixedl end walls 14,and a second story floor 15, secured to fixed side and end walls.

Referring to FIG. 2, permanent partition walls 16, in the'base structureprovide a means for installing utilities 17, bathroom fixtures l8,kitchen fixtures 19, and stairs 20.

For the perpose of the invention, connected to the base structure by aseries of piano hinges 21, 22, and 23, are two foldable end wallsections 24, two double foldable roof sections 25. Also attachable tothe outside portion of fixed side walls at floor levels are a series ofangular brackets 26, which when attached to each other join thestructures in parallel positions. In the folded and detached positionthese structures meet all the requirements for highway transit.

In more detail, as seen in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, it will be noted that ingoing from the folded position to the expansion phase of any one of thesimilar structures that piano hinges 21, which secure the folding roofsections 25, to the top portion of fixed side walls 13, allow thesesections to be raised from horizontal positions to vertical and diagonalpositions to be connected at the apex. It will be further noted thateach of the roof sections is further divided by piano hinges 22, whichallow one portion of each section to be folded under the other when inthe folded position. The perpose being to allow each roof section tofold down in position independently of the other, and also to be loweredenough to meet highway transit requirements. Further detailing showsthat piano hinges 23, secure the endwall sections 24, to the top portionof fixed end walls 14, and allow them to be raised from horizontalpositions over the fixed second floor 15, to vertical positions afterthe roof sections 25, have been raised, all to be interconnected in theraised position.

Referring to FIG. 3, partition arrangements can be added to the secondstory area when in the expanded position to divide it into suitablesleeping and storage areas.

It will be further noted in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, that provision is madein the design of the angularly mounted brackets 26, to allow theirattachment to the outer portion of fixed sidewalls 13, at varyingpositions and adjustable vertically and laterally to compensate forchanges in the parking positions'of individual structures. Also,provision is made in the outwardly protruding portions of the angularlymounted brackets for adjustment diagonally and attachment together atvarying lengths.

In FIGS. 10, 13 and 14, it will be further noted that an alternateprovision is made for attachment of the protruding portion of theangularly mounted brackets 26, at varying lengths to to steel beams 27,vertically mounted in the ground between structures, rather than to eachother.

Going one step further, as in FIGS. 10, 15 and 16, it will be noted thatalternate provision is made for attaching the protruding portions ofangularly mounted brackets 26, to masonry walls 28, positioned parallelbetween structures, rather than to each other.

The described means of attaching similar structures to each other servesto stabilize them together in parallel positions while still allowingthe detachment and removal of individual structures or the attachment ofnew structures without disturbing the whole.

Further details in FIGS. 6, 8 and 10, show that in any one of thesimilar structures side walls 13, extend upward beyond the second floorlevel 15, at equal heights and far enough to allow double folding roofsections 25, to lie in a parallel horizontal position over folding endwall sections 24, when in the folded position.

Details in FIGS. 17 and 18, show alternate configurations for foldingroof sections 25, and folding end wall sections 24, the perpose being toshow that the invention can be adapted to different designs in thesesections.

From the above description, it is sen that this invention provides for aseries of similar trailable building structures which when at thelocation site can be expanded to form two story structures and forstability can be attached together in a paallel, so called townhousemanner, in such a way that individual structures can be detached andremoved or added and attached without disturbing the others.

Any suitable hoisting device such as a crane or a simple winchingarrangement can be used to raise the folding sections of the structuresto their proper positions.

I claim:

1. A series of parallel interconnected trailers each comprising:

an expandable building structure with fixed support frame having fixedvertical side walls;

hinge means attached to the top portion of said side walls;

at least two foldable roof sections, each having two parts hingedtogether;

one end of each of said roof sections being mounted to the hinge meansof their respective fixed side walls for pivotally moving about fixedhorizontal axes of rotation from separate coplanar horizontal positionswith respect to the frame, the two parts of each roof section beingjuxtaposed one over the other, to upwardly extended angularly orientedpositions with respect to the frame, for further pivotal movement of thesecond parts of said roof sections about their hinged means in simplehorizontal axes of rotation from upwardly angled positions with respectto the frame to further upwardly extended angularly oriented positions,the roof sections joining at an apex to form a cover over an expandedarea above the frame;

whereby said trailer fully expanded with its unbalanced height to widthratio is rendered unstable relative to outside forces, and requires aninterconnection with similar trailers to gain stability.

2. The structures as defined in claim 1, set in close proximity inparallel positions, together with extendable support means connected tothe fixed sidewalls of each structure and correspondingly connected toeach other; whereby the connected extended support means providestability to the structures by joining them together in a manner whichallows the addition or removal of any single structure withoutdisturbing the whole.

3. The subject matter as set forth in claim 2, wherein said extendablesupport means rather than being correspondingly connected to each otherare connected individually to ground supported beams set between thestructures; whereby the extended support means provide stability toindividual structures in a manner which allows the addition or removalof any one structure without disturbing the whole.

4. The subject matter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said extendablesupport means rather than being correspondingly connected to each otherare connected each to ground supported masonry walls set between saidstructures; whereby the extended support means provide stability toindividual structures in a manner allowing their addition or removalwithout disturbing the whole.

1. A series of parallel interconnected trailers each comprising: anexpandable building structure with fixed support frame having fixedvertical side walls; hinge means attached to the top portion of saidside walls; at least two foldable roof sections, each havIng two partshinged together; one end of each of said roof sections being mounted tothe hinge means of their respective fixed side walls for pivotallymoving about fixed horizontal axes of rotation from separate coplanarhorizontal positions with respect to the frame, the two parts of eachroof section being juxtaposed one over the other, to upwardly extendedangularly oriented positions with respect to the frame, for furtherpivotal movement of the second parts of said roof sections about theirhinged means in simple horizontal axes of rotation from upwardly angledpositions with respect to the frame to further upwardly extendedangularly oriented positions, the roof sections joining at an apex toform a cover over an expanded area above the frame; whereby said trailerfully expanded with its unbalanced height to width ratio is renderedunstable relative to outside forces, and requires an interconnectionwith similar trailers to gain stability.
 2. The structures as defined inclaim 1, set in close proximity in parallel positions, together withextendable support means connected to the fixed sidewalls of eachstructure and correspondingly connected to each other; whereby theconnected extended support means provide stability to the structures byjoining them together in a manner which allows the addition or removalof any single structure without disturbing the whole.
 3. The subjectmatter as set forth in claim 2, wherein said extendable support meansrather than being correspondingly connected to each other are connectedindividually to ground supported beams set between the structures;whereby the extended support means provide stability to individualstructures in a manner which allows the addition or removal of any onestructure without disturbing the whole.
 4. The subject matter as setforth in claim 2 wherein said extendable support means rather than beingcorrespondingly connected to each other are connected each to groundsupported masonry walls set between said structures; whereby theextended support means provide stability to individual structures in amanner allowing their addition or removal without disturbing the whole.